GEPS 004: My Gramps and Gadgets

This proposal has now been implemented, and is in GRAMPS 3.1 as the Gramplets View

Proposed changes for enhancing GRAMPS by adding a new GUI API that allows data to be displayed on the screen, with graphical objects such as tables, buttons, text entry, links, etc. This would effectively be able to turn a user plugin into an interface for moving, say, the active person in the main window, or, possibly, for user-defined data entry. . See Gramplets for development information, Gramps 3.1 Wiki Manual - Gramplets for information on using them, and Third-party Plugins for a list of additional Gramplets.

Motivation

Allows users to add to the GRAMPS interface. A new page, currently called "Gramplets", would be created that allows for customized "gramplets" that perform various functions (other than tools and reports). This might include: interactive shells, TODO lists, logs, debugging tools, and various "folders" for organizing groups of people, families, or other objects.

Details

A prototype is now available for exploration and testing. To activate the prototype, add the following line to your .gramps/keys.ini file in the interface section:

This should be all on one line. You can change the order (and leave some pages out) as well with this key. (You can also add pages multiple times, but that isn't as useful as the active object on one page will change it on another).

On start up, the file gramplets.ini is looked for in the user's .gramps subdirectory. If it is not found, a set of gramplets are created, currently a Welcome Message Gramplet and a Stats Gramplet.

You can drag the Properties button (top left) of each gramplet to move it around the screen. Clicking the Properties will (currently) detach the gramplet from My Gramps and place it in its own window. The window will stay open regardless of page (relationship, pedigree, etc). Closing the detached view will put it back onto the Gramplets view. If you quit Gramps with a open gramplet, when you start gramps again, it will open automatically.

You can add new gramplets by right clicking on an open space on Gramplets. You can also change the number of columns by right-clicking an open area on the Gramplets page.

Gramplets

What is a GRAMPS gramplet? A GRAMPS gramplet is a view of data that either changes dynamically during the running of GRAMPS, or provides interactivity to your genealogical data. What is the difference between gramplets, reports, quick views, and tools?

This section will describe each gramplet and its proposed functionality

Welcome Gramplet

The welcome gramplet gives an introductory message to new users, and some basic instructions.

TODO: add links to parts of manual, links to bring up windows.

Top Surnames Gramplet

The top surnames gramplet shows the top 10 (by default) used surnames. Double-click a surname to run the Same Surnames Quick View.

Change the number of names displayed by editing this section in ~/.gramps/gramplets.ini

Surname Cloud Gramplet

The surname cloud gramplet shows the top 100 (by default) used surnames. Double-click a surname to run the Same Surnames Quick View. Mouse over the name to see percentage and counts.

Change the number of names displayed by editing this section in ~/.gramps/gramplets.ini

TODO Gramplet

The TODO gramplet is free form text. This is persistent between sessions. Open more than one to save different info. Change the title of the gramplet by editing the section name in ~/.gramps/gramplets.ini

Statistics Gramplet

The Statistics gramplet runs a copy of the code from the Statistics report.

Python Gramplet

The Python gramplet brings up a Python Shell for interpreting python expressions. You can type most any (single line) Python expression. In addition, the environment has been populated with some useful variables, including self (this Python gramplet), Date, uistate and dbstate. The Date entry is a date object constructor, and can be used for date arithmetic. For example, you might be interested in answering these questions:

What was the date 56 years ago:

> Date(2007, 12, 31) - 56
1951-12-31

How old was someone on Sept 3, 1955 who was born on June 7, 1922:

> Date(1955, 9, 3) - Date(1922, 5, 7)
(33, 3, 27)

(About 33 years, 3 months, and 27 days). When did they turn 21 years old?

> Date(1922, 5, 7) + 21
1943-05-07

You can also add years, months, and days:

> Date(1980) + (0, 0, 25)
1980-01-26

News Gramplet

Session Log Gramplet

The session log keeps track of activity in this session. By default, it only shows each entry once. Change this behavior by editing this section in ~/.gramps/gramplets.ini. Click a name to change the active person; double-click to bring up the edit page for that person.

Calendar Gramplet

The Calendar gramplet shows a monthly calendar, with events marked (in bold day numbers). Double-click a day to run the "On This Day" Quick Report.